Binder



DCC- 25, 1934- v L.. E. SHIPMAN 1,985,583

BINDER Filed Deo. l, 1932 lNvENToR 15572595 JH/P/f//A/M BY W 'ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES Y PATENT" OFFICE y BINDER Lester E. Shipman, KevvrGardens, NQY. l g Apbiieetien December 1, 1932, serial No. 645,158

' solaires. "(01. 12a- 41) This invention relates to a binder especially of latch is an ordinarybar orpin which can be one which is adapted to be used with loose leaves. passed through the link just above the surface of An object of the invention isto pro-vide a smthe top strip enabling the chain to be twisted unple and eflicient means whereby the leaves can til suicient pressure is exerted on the strip Y l 5 be quickly and easily assembled and fastened whereupon the ends of the pin `can be lockedin 5 tightly in position between binding strips with a the lateral anges of the trough-like casing. In minimum of effort on the part of the operator. this case alsothe free vends of the chain lie in A further object is to provide a connecting the casing and are protected by the cover when chain element extending between the binding `not in use.

i' strips which by reason of its nature can be iiexi- In` the drawing which' illustrates the present 105 bly adjusted to compress any reasonable amount preferred form ofthe invention:- of material between the strips. Fig. 1 is a perspective'view of the device;

A further object is to provide such a connec- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross-,section tion as can be employed to engage With suitable taken through'part of the device;

151 latohing means to latch the binding strips to Fig. 3 is'a vertical transverse cross-section; v 1:5

effect a compressing pressure on Vthe embraced Fig. 4is a'detail of one of the latches; paper Yby the operation of suitable latches. Fig. 5 is atrans'verse section through'the top A further object is to provide a simple, inexbinding'strip; and pensive interconnected link chain capable of Fig.'6is'a partial perspective view of a modied' 2e being twisted in one directionl or another to form of latching means. change its effective length. As shown in the drawing the invention is `ap' Further and more specific objects, features and plicable to a book or loose-leaf ledgerihaving a advantages will more clearly appear from a contop 1, a bottom 2 and a flexible back'B'." The top Sideration of the Vspecification hereinafter when is provided with a'bindin'g strip 4' andthe bottom 25' taken in connection with the accompanying is provided with a'binding strip 5.Y Thesebind- 25' drawing which forms part of the speciiicationv ing strips are preferably made of heavyleather, and which illustratesa present preferred form of cardboard or may be made of metal, if desired. the invention.l Preferably onvthe top binding strip 4 there is The invention in brief comprises a pair of binddisposed a htrough-like metal plate Shaving lon- 3 compressed.` One or more chains of interconis preferably disposed a cover plate 7 which may nected links are anchored toone strip and extend be Vpivoted thereto or Vmay be slipped over the through holes in the paper to'the other strip. top of theftrough plate by being snapped down With a given lnumber of leaves in position this over the same.I The trough plate 6 is provided 351 chain can be twisted upon'itself to adjust its effecwith suitable openings such as 8 therein which are 35` tive length so that suitable latch members as" to bedisposed in alignment Awith suitable holes insociatedwith its upper end may-be operated to the superposed leaves 9 of the book or ledger lmly COmpIeSS the binding Strips UDCH the 8mand are also inv registrationor alignment With brewed leaves The Chains are provided with suitable holes suohas 1o. in the bottom binding 40 simple needle-like threadableelements on their Strip 5. Y

outer ends to facilitate the threading of the In Order to holdthe leaves tightly together a chains through the leaves. The loose ends of the binding element euehvas e, Chain .11 extends up- 01.131115 Per having been locked 0,1' latched are wardly through the aligned holes of the leaves 9. dlsposed m a" trough'hke casmg elther formmg This chain at-its bottom is provided with a cross the uppervbinding strip or constituting part vof Said stri This trou h nke Casin is referabl Y bar 12 which-1s disposed transversely to the axis p. s g p y of the Chain itseif, and beneath the binding strip provided with a' cover to Contain and hold the 5 to anchor the lower end of the chain in position loose en s` 1 d concealed and out of the Way Whlle The chain 11 is designed .to be in the form of the binder is being used to prevent accidental matching The preferred form of latch mem interconnected, looselyconnectedlinks Which are ber comprises a slidable plate which is moved formade merely by belng lltelllnked and are not ward to slide beneath one of the links in the chain in any Way DOSVGIY COIlneCted by any SuCh and exert an upward pressure on the link and pull means as rivets or the like. Consequently this the chain by frictionally pressing the binding chain is exceedingly flexible in that its successive strips more firmly on the leaves. Another form links can be turned in a direction at right angles ing strips between which loose leaves4 are'tov be gitudinally overturned flanges and over these 30` to its axis or twisted so as to considerably increase or decrease the effective length of the chain. The upper end of the chain is provided with a suitable bar-like threading member 13 to nable the chain to be readily threaded upwardly through the leaves of the book.

After the chains of which there are at least two have been threaded the operator twists the chain somewhat to cause it to be pulled tight and then slides the latch member 14 forward. This latch member comprises a plate having a central slot 15 and an upper sloping surface 16. The nearest link of the chain 11 is embraced by the slot 15 and the sloping surface 16 engages beneath the link disposed next adjacent its top surface to exert an upward cam action on the chain and pull it tight and thus force the binding strips 4 and 5 firmly back on the embraced leaves 9. In order to retain the latch element 14 in position the spring plate 17 is disposed beneath the path of travel of the cam latch to exert sufficient friction on its under portion to hold it in position. The lateral edges 18 and 19 of the cam latch element are adapted to lie in and slide in the lateral flanges of the trough plate 6 and so that the latch element will be guided in its forward and backward movements. After the chains have thus been tightened and latched the remainder of the chain above the trough plates.

6 is laid flat along it as shown in Figs. l and 2 and the cover '7 is then placed over the trough plate to keep these parts in position and to cover them.

In Fig. 6 a modified form of latch element used with the general chain is shown which consists of a pin or bar 20 which is slid through that portion which lies just above the surface of the trough plate, and which is preferably twisted to twist the chain in order to create an inward pulling action on the binding strips and, with this rigidity at a maximum, the pin is disposed as shown in Fig. 6 with its ends latched beneath the opposite anges of the trough plate 6. The balance of the chain, not shown in Fig. 6, may be disposed along the trough plate and covered, as previously described, if desired.

It will, therefore, be seen that this device includes a simple twistable interlinked chain anchored at one end and capable of being passed through the holes in the paper and capable of being pulled to tighten the binding strips on the paper sufficiently. The character of the chain permits it being twisted to further effect tightening action. The provision of a simple threader on the end of the chain facilitates the speed with which the device can be applied. The two forms disclosed for anchoring or latching the top of the chain are equally simple and effective. The adjustable cover is also effective in preventing the loose ends of the chain from coming out and keeping the connecting devices covered so that there will not likely be any accidental unlatching during use.

It is further to be understood that in some forms of the invention, the chain instead of being definitely anchored at one end may be provided to engage with adjustable latches at both ends which would be merely a duplication of the construction shown. This would enable the chain to be latched and released from either end as the circumstances might require.

While the invention has been described in detail and with respect to a present preferred form thereof it is not to be limited to such details and forms since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspects. Hence it is desired to cover any and all forms and modifications of the invention which may come within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

What is claimed, is:

1. An improved binder which includes a binding strip, a trough-like casing associated therewith having laterally overturned longitudinal flanges, a cam-shaped latching element slidable along said trough'and adapted to engage with a con- -nector element to latch the same, and fiexible spring means engaging the latch element to hold it in any desired adjusted position.

2. An improved binder which includes a binder strip having longitudinal laterally overturned flanges to form a trough, a slidable latch plate having outwardly extending flanges to slide beneath the lateral flanges of the strip, said latch plate having a sloping cam surface, a flexible strip disposed beneath the latch plate to engage it frictionally to hold it in a desired position, said sloping surface having a longitudinal slot to receive a portion of a connector to be latched, the sloping surface adapted to engage a part of said connector and latch the same to create a longitudinal tension therein.

3. An improved binder which comprises a trough-like binder strip, and an adjustable cover therefor, slidable cam latches disposed in said trough and adapted to engage with portions of a connector, the free endslof the connector adapted to lie in said trough and be housed beneath the cover.

4. An improved binder which includes a pair of spaced binder strips, a chain of loosely connected links fastened to one strip and passing through holes in leaves to and through the other strip, a slidable latch element moveable on said last mentioned strip, said latch having a slotted sloping cam surface adapted tol engage a link of the chain as the latch is moved to exert a longitudinal pull on the chain.

5. An improved binder which includes a pair of spaced binder strips, a chain of loosely connected links fastened to one strip and passingy through holes in leaves to and through the other strip, a slidable latch element moveable on said last mentioned strip, said latch having a slotted sloping cam surface adapted to engage a link of the chain as the latch is moved to exert a longitudinal pull on the chain, and friction means on the strip engaging the latch to hold it in adjusted position.

6. An improved binder which includes a pair of' binder strips, a chain adapted toy pass through leaves to be held, said chain anchored at the lower end to one of said strips, and a slidable latch moveable on the other strip to engage the upper end of the chain, said latch having a sloping slotted cam surface to engage with a link of the chain and exert a longitudinal pull on the chain.

LESTER E. SHIPMAN. 

